公开(公告)号：CA2210263A1

公开(公告)日：1999-01-11

申请号：CA2210263

申请日：1997-07-11

Applicant: IBM CANADA

Inventor： HAMILTON JAMES R ,  MACON JAMES FRANKLIN JR

IPC: G06F3/06 ,  G06F13/14

Abstract: The invention herein provides a method and apparatus for increasing the number o f devices accessible by a computer system, in which the devices are accessible in a name s pace using a naming convention for the devices. It includes a name having a preselected numbe r of characters, with the characters being selected from a preselected set of charact ers. The name space of devices is divided into indexed drivebands wherein each of the driveban ds is adapted to contain the maximum number of names obtainable using the preselected number o f characters. A device is accessed by addressing the devices using the index of a selected dri veband and the name within the driveband to select the device.